Report: Fewer jobs added in Charlotte in 1Q

Charlotte added fewer jobs in the first quarter of 2011 compared with the same quarter last year, according to the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

During the quarter, 268 new or expanding firms created 2,321 jobs, down from 206 new or expanding firms adding 3,817 jobs in the first quarter of 2010.

Companies invested $127.6 million and added 1.4 million square feet in Charlotte in the first quarter of 2011, down from $279.5 million in investment and 4.1 million in additional square feet in the year-ago quarter.

Investment and increases in square footage were down because of a lack of commercial speculative building, the chamber said.

Manufacturing had the largest investment and increases in square footage, while finance and manufacturing had the largest job increases, the chamber said. The healthcare industry added the most new or expanding businesses.